Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives with respect to legislation relating to raising the retirement
age under title II of the Social Security Act.

Whereas more than 53.4 million Americans receive Social
Security old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits, including 36.5
million retirees and their spouses, 8.2 million disabled persons and their
spouses, 4.5 million surviving spouses of deceased workers, and 4.3 million
dependent children;

Whereas the Social Security program is America’s most
successful and reliable retirement program and it continues to serve Americans
well;

Whereas seniors have put in a lifetime of hard work,
helping to make our economy grow and make our Nation great, and they deserve a
dignified and secure retirement;

Whereas Social Security benefits have already been cut by
gradually increasing the full retirement age from 65 for individuals who
attained early retirement age before the year 2000 to 67 for individuals who
will attain early retirement age in or after the year 2022;

Whereas the physical demands of a job differ from industry
to industry and the longevity of individuals’ lives differs significantly, on
average, according to their level of income, education, and access to health
care;

Whereas 45 percent of workers age 58 and older are in jobs
that are physically demanding or have difficult working conditions;

Whereas, according to data from the Bureau of Labor and
Statistics, in April 2010, the job market for Americans age 55 and older had
never been worse;

Whereas there has been a 17 percent increase in age
discrimination cases since 2007 according to the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission;

Whereas Social Security benefits for retirees currently
average a modest $14,000 a year, with the average for women receiving benefits
being less than $12,000 per year;

Whereas raising the full retirement age above 67 for
future retirees would reduce their benefits by 6 to 7 percent;

Whereas, according to the National Academy of Social
Insurance, 45 percent of women age 65 and older who live alone are below 150
percent of the Federal poverty level; and

Whereas the Social Security program, which has a $2.5
trillion surplus, is not a cause of Federal budget deficits, and benefit cuts
should not be proposed as a solution to reduce Federal deficits: Now,
therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that the retirement age under title II of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) should not be raised.